Crockpot Whole Wheat Bread Recipe - My Natural Family (2024)

FAQs

Why is my homemade whole wheat bread so dense? ›

The reason why whole wheat loaves end up so dense is because whole wheat flour has very little gluten as compared to white all-purpose flour. Gluten is important for giving the dough – and final loaves – structure. Without it, loaves tend to end up flat and dense.

Whole grain flour: Whole grain flours such as whole wheat or rye don't produce the same stretchy glutens as all-purpose flour, which can lead to denser doughs that don't rise as well. Dry crust: If the surface of your dough dries out, it can impede rising.

As you may know, dough loves to rise in a warm and draft-free environment. But did you know that your trusty slow cooker can provide just the right conditions for proofing your dough to perfection? Yep, you read that right!

It's soft yet hearty and oh-so-flavorful, and store-bought sandwich bread just doesn't compare! You can use 100% whole wheat flour, or you can swap in some bread flour for a taller, fluffier loaf.

All it takes is a small amount of dough enhancer per loaf to create a much lighter and fluffier result. Using a dough enhancer like Vital Wheat Gluten works to improve the texture and elasticity of the dough and elongate the strands of gluten. Doing so allows more room for the gas in the dough to develop and rise.

Yeast is a microorganism that helps to give bread its light and fluffy texture and distinctive flavor. But when it comes to baking whole wheat bread, does it require more yeast than other types of bread? The answer is yes, whole wheat bread generally requires more yeast than other types of bread.

Whole wheat flour may require a bit more kneading than white flour.

So, 1,000 grams of flour and 750 grams of water will always be 75% hydration; it doesn't matter if the flour is rye, whole wheat, buckwheat, or gluten-free. However, whole-grain flours are “thirstier,” and doughs made with whole-grain flours typically require more water.

If the dough is left longer it will over prove (the gas bubbles in the dough become too large) and when the loaf is baked it is less likely to rise in the oven and it is also possible that it will become mis-shaped on baking as some of the gas bubbles may be so large that they over-expand with the heat of the oven and ...

What happens if you let bread dough proof too long? ›

“If the dough has risen too long, it's going to feel fragile and might even collapse as you poke it,” says Maggie.

If yeasted dough isn't allowed to proof, the yeast can't release carbon dioxide, and the gluten won't stretch to hold the air bubbles. Proofing is an essential part of bread baking and other applications that rely on yeast to create air pockets, such as making croissants.

Generally speaking, substituting whole wheat can result in a drier, denser product.

If you convert a recipe to all whole-grain flour and find the result too dense or wheaty, try adding a tablespoon of orange juice in place of the same quantity of liquid to mellow the wheaty flavor. You can also add back a small portion of all-purpose flour.

1. Substitute an equal part of whole wheat flour for white flour as long as it's the same type of flour. In other words, 1 cup of whole wheat bread flour can replace 1 cup of white bread flour, and 1/2 cup of whole wheat all-purpose flour is an acceptable substitute for 1/2 cup of white all-purpose flour.

Lack of gas and fermentation that makes the dough aerate results in dense and heavy bread. In these cases, it is either necessary to allow the dough to be proof longer or move it to the warmer room.

There may be several reasons for a dense, cake like texture in bread. It may indicate the kneading wasn't enough for the gluten to develop properly, or the dough was proved for too short a time or the dough may have been too dry. It is also worth checking the flour you used.

Too much extra flour worked into the dough while folding and/or shaping can cause dense bread. Over mixing can cause a dense loaf by the weakening and breakdown of the gluten (not likely to happen if you fold dough or hand knead). The flour you used is a whole grain with coarse bits of bran and grain in it.